Watch community – are you ready to witness the novelties of Watches And Wonders 2023? Here we go… Czapek & Cie launches an integrated bracelet steel sports watch which is the defining face of success for the modern watchmaking industry. The distinct personality of the latest iteration in this segment, the Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’ offers a pleasing look from the angular bezels often highlighting the domain.
It strikes a perfectly symbiotic balance between the definitive fundamentals of watchmaking – the mechanics and aesthetics. Powered by the tried-and-true SXH5 movement, this timepiece featuring a minimalistic and monochromatic dial excels in legibility and viewing pleasure in all conditions.
Taking A Serene, Geometrical Approach To The Display Of Time
The thoughtful use of space and avoidance of superfluous aesthetics is the key to Antarctique’s appeal. The discreet positioning of the minute track highlights the smooth anthracite dial periphery. It surrounds a concentric parallel scheme of lightly arched applied segments interrupted at hour positions. The sword-shaped hour hand points to the gaps and animates an impression of a ship seeking entrance into a harbor, while the minute and second hands sweep the dial each at their own pace, closing the gaps for a moment.
Czapek & Cie CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel says, “The idea is simple, but requires great precision to execute. The hands crossing from segment to segment over the dusky backdrop of the dial looks almost like a shoreline seen from far above. The dial was designed in such a way that the marker becomes the void between each sector (an almost philosophical way of defining matter). This spontaneously inspired the model’s name ‘Dark Sector’, which comes from the Dark Sector Laboratory and telescopes at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.”
The Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’ is a natural evolution of the collection’s elegantly wearable case and brushed titanium bracelet provided with sensually rounded crown guards. The monochrome scheme of the model’s overall look results from the abundance of grey shades and highlights the two touches of color on the dial, the red dot at twelve o’clock, and the tip of the second hand.
On the reserve side, the thing that catches the attention is Czapek’s robust automatic caliber SXH5, the inceptive in-house caliber for the manufacture. It is powered by a micro-rotor of recycled platinum which provides the density to optimize winding efficiency and results in up to sixty hours of power reserve.
The movement with its 193 parts is adjusted to five positions and seamlessly delivers chronometer-level timekeeping precision. The fine architecture of the movement with seven bridges that trace the 19th-century pocket watch movement formats is revealed by the exhibition case back. The new model’s elegant sporty look is given by the caliber’s 4.5 millimeters height. With a height of just 4.5 millimeters, this new model is every bit as sporty and refined as the rest of the Antarctique collection.
Availability:
Limited to 100 pieces per year, the Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’, timepieces will be available at Czapek’s authorized dealers worldwide, its flagship store in Geneva, and at Czapek.com.
